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Why You Really Should Stop Touching Your Face

Can’t stop touching your face? Nip that bad habit in the bud once and for all.

When was the last time you touched your face? Odds are, pretty recently. This common — and unhygienic — habit can lead to a whole host of unsavory consequences for your skin, from unsightly pimples to permanent scarring.

Hitchhiking Bacteria

We hate to break it to you — but in addition to all the useful things your hands do for you during the day, they’re also vessels for bacteria. Each time you rest your hand on your chin, the bacteria from every other surface you’ve touched, from doorbells to dollar bills, comes along for the ride. And when your face’s oily pores come into contact with microscopic dirt and bacteria particles, a pimple is born. This is especially bad news for those of us already predisposed to acne.

Though a simple hand wash will eliminate this p. Acnes bacteria, keeping your hands away from your face in the first place is the best way to prevent the spread of bacteria and the proliferation of pimples.

Breaking the Dirty Habit

The first step is to become more aware of your tendency to touch your face, and the frequency with which you do so. In the rush of daily life, however, it’s difficult to channel this type of focus — especially for people whose face-touching is triggered by boredom or stress.

Set a recurring reminder on your phone to keep you focused on your goal. Or, as a more extreme measure, tie a short string to your finger to catch your eye as your hand travels to your face. And as you proceed through your day, take mental note of the surfaces you’re touching, from the public bathroom door handle to your office keyboard. After a day of tallying filthy subway poles and grimy bills, you’ll be more motivated than ever to keep those germs as far away from your pores as possible.

After gaining increased awareness of your habit, monitor your progress by keeping a daily count of your face-touching episodes. Simply holding yourself accountable with a written record of your indiscretions will help deter you from touching your face as frequently.

The truth is, we all touch our faces at some point during the day. But to maintain healthy skin and prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, it’s important to gain control of this pesky habit before it gets out of hand. If you’ve stopped touching your face but are still experiencing skin issues, contact your dermatologist to develop a plan to keep your complexion clear.